Larson’s trey propels Linn-Mar to overtime win

CEDAR RAPIDS — Claire Larson wasn't the first option. Not even close.

'I wasn't even supposed to be on the floor,' she said. 'Megan (Murphy) was in for offense, and I was in for defense.'

As it turned out, Larson was in for heroics.

Her first 3-pointer of the season broke a 60-all tie in overtime, and Class 5A eighth-ranked Linn-Mar outlasted Cedar Rapids Xavier, 67-61, in a Mississippi Valley Conference girls' basketball dandy Tuesday night at Ron Thillen Gymnasium.

'My No. 1 instinct is to drive, and get the ball to someone if they're wide open and calling for the ball,' said Linn-Mar guard Kamryn Finley. 'Claire was calling for the ball, so I knew she was confident enough to hit the shot.'

Larson was 0-for-8 from long range this season, but when the chips were down Tuesday, she delivered. As a result, the Lions (16-4 overall, 10-2 MVC) won their seventh straight game.

'We're just clicking right now,' Lions Coach Jaime Brandt said. 'Everyone has found and is accepting their role. We're finding each other offensively.'

Even if they're not the first option.

Xavier (8-12, 4-8) was in position to win in regulation, scoring 13 straight points for a 57-53 lead with 1:44 left. The Saints still held a 58-56 edge before Finley drove for the tying basket with 11 seconds left.

McKenna Andersen had a shot to win at the end of regulation, but missed in traffic.

'We had a couple of opportunities,' Xavier Coach Tom Lilly said. 'But the ball slips out of bounds here, we miss a layup there. Offensive rebounding hurt us.'

Jenny Dickes' two free throws gave the Saints a 60-58 edge to start overtime, then University of Iowa signee Amanda Ollinger tied it with a basket.

That set the stage for Larson's go-ahead triple with 50 seconds left, and the Lions led the rest of the way.

Finley led a balanced Linn-Mar attack with 17 points. Ollinger (16 points, 13 rebounds) and Lexi Frese (11 and 10) posted double-doubles, and Alie Akers scored 10 points.

Xavier's Lexi Noonan led all scorers with 23 points, 17 after halftime. Andersen added 10 points; Kylie Brown registered eight points and 10 rebounds.

Ollinger went to the bench with two fouls midway through the first quarter and Linn-Mar in front, 8-4.

Xavier took the lead, 18-17, before Ollinger returned at the 5:30 mark of the second period, then stretched it to 21-17 on Brown's three-point play. But Linn-Mar scored the next nine points, and took a 29-24 advantage into intermission.

LINN-MAR 67, CEDAR RAPIDS XAVIER 61 (OT)

At C.R. Xavier

LINN-MAR (67): Alie Akers 4-5 0-0 10, Lexi Frese 4-12 3-4 11, Brittney Lancial 0-1 0-0 0, Kamryn Finley 7-19 2-3 17, Amanda Ollinger 6-12 2-4 16, Carly Spies 0-2 0-0 0, Ally Johnson 0-1 1-2 1, Megan Murphy 2-4 0-0 6, Claire Larson 2-3 1-2 6. Totals 25-59 9-15 67.

C.R. XAVIER (61): McKenna Andersen 2-13 6-6 10, Lexi Noonan 9-21 5-7 23, Jenny Dickes 0-0 2-2 2, Amelea Ivester 0-1 0-0 0, Meghan Joens 1-4 0-0 2, Kylie Brown 3-7 2-3 8, Brylee Bastian 2-2 0-0 5, Kiana Stanek 4-5 0-0 11. Totals 21-53 15-18 61.

Halftime: Linn-Mar 29, Xavier 24. End of regulation: 58-58. 3-point goals: Linn-Mar 8-21 (Akers 2-3, Frese 0-1, Lancial 0-1, Finley 1-7, Ollinger 2-3, Johnson 0-1, Murphy 2-4, Larson 1-1), Xavier 4-9 (Andersen 0-2, Brown 0-2, Bastian 1-1, Stanek 3-4). Team fouls: Linn-Mar 14, Xavier 17. Rebounds: Linn-Mar 36 (Ollinger 13), Xavier 33 (Brown 10). Assists: Linn-Mar 13 (Ollinger 4), Xavier 12 (Andersen 4). Steals: Linn-Mar 3 (Frese 2), Xavier 6 (Noonan, Dickes 2). Turnovers: Linn-Mar 9, Xavier 11.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com